Venue: FIAS-Hörsaal

How can consciousness, learning, and autonomy be conceptualized in artificial systems – and where do their limits lie? In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Jochen Triesch, FIAS Fellow and expert at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, explores the foundations, possibilities, and limitations of conscious artificial systems.

About the Speaker

Jochen Triesch is a Senior Fellow at FIAS and Professor at Goethe University Frankfurt. His research connects neuroscience, cognitive development, and artificial intelligence. He investigates how learning, perception, and autonomy emerge in the brain and how these principles can be transferred to artificial systems.

A particular focus of his work is Developmental AI, in which artificial agents learn autonomously by drawing inspiration from the development of infants and young children as they come to understand their environment.

Jochen Triesch is also involved in the Excellence Cluster TAM, which will start in 2026 and focuses on universal principles of human adaptability. This interdisciplinary collaboration brings together psychology, cognitive and neurosciences with research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, aiming to contribute both to advances in mental health research and to the development of more robust AI systems.

Further Information

Lecture start: 6:00 pm
Reception: Following the lecture (registration required)
Venue: FIAS Lecture Hall

Please note: The language of the lectures will be German.

Further details will be announced in due course.

Registration:
Participation in the event is free of charge. Due to limited capacity for the reception following the lecture, registration will be required once the topics have been announced.

FIAS Forum 2026

The FIAS Forum addresses current topics from the natural sciences and societal debate four times a year, presenting them in a scientifically sound yet accessible manner. This enables stimulating discussions on pressing challenges in natural science research and their impact on society.

After the lecture, participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the speaker and other FIAS scientists during a small reception.

Dates 2026:
26 March
18 June
17 September
19 November